Sunday, September 8, 2013

"I would have joined Arsenal for free!" said Mesut Ozil.

Mesut Ozil has claimed he would have joined Arsenal for free after sealing a club-record move to The Emirates on Monday.The 24-year-old completed a 42.5m switch to north London from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day, with the Germany international penning a five-year deal with the Gunners.Ozil was reported to be out-of-favour under new Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after Los Blancos signed Gareth Bale in a world-record 85.3m deal.

And the former Werder Bremen midfielder revealed Gunners boss Arsne Wenger was a key factor in his decision to depart the Spanish capital and move to Arsenal.

"-In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid transparency, trust, respect, Ozil told Die Welt.

-Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me. I would have even joined Arsenal for free."